Program Description
As our state emerges from the pandemic, we have learned just how important business retention efforts at the local level are. Through a “Train the Trainer” model, partner organizations that serve small business customers will learn how to establish a consistent business retention program locally, how to build trust with business owners, how to use available tools to understand business needs, where to direct businesses using the MEDC.Initiate portal, and how to develop consistency, accountability and follow through in your organization’s small business support and development services.
Over the next year, the MEDC in partnership with Northern Initiatives, will be offering three training cohorts, each lasting about 12 weeks, that will provide four strategic learning sessions for trainers. Registration is required and space is limited. Northern Initiatives is the creator of the Initiate platform and a Community Development Financial Institution based in Michigan. They have trained community and economic development organizations serving 33 states on how to utilize the Initiate platform and enhance their business retention programs.
For a complete program description, deliverables, and participant expectations, please visit: https://www.miplace.org/small-business/training-series
Participant Eligibility
Organizations interested in participating in a learning cohort and accessing the MEDC.Initiate portal must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Identify as one of the following organization types:
- Local unit of government, downtown development authority, main street program, chamber of commerce, community development corporation, or other neighborhood business association that serves a downtown, historic commercial corridor, or area planned and zoned for concentrated commercial development.
- Financial institutions or CDFIs which have obtained loan funds provided or supported by the MSF.
- Other non-profit small business support organizations, headquartered in Michigan. Priority will be given to organizations who do not receive direct federal funding on an annual basis.
- Can demonstrate a history of small business support programming and/or a desire to expand support resources.
Program Dates
Cohort - Winter 2022
- January 19, 2022
- February 2, 2022
- February 9, 2022 *Small Business Training
- February 16, 2022
- March 9, 2022
Please return to the top of this webpage and click "Forms" in the top, left corner of the page to access the registration form.